Electrolytic apparatus



July 26, 1938.I w. sYKEs ELECTROLYTIC APPARATS Filed June 12, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet l Wm. mm. @mi waff JQN QM NN Y MN5 Q QN @Nl m.. m mm KN m h.01% mm Am, QQ Wk Nm mm NN SNN July 26, 1938. w. sYKEs yELECTROLYTICAPPARATUS Filed June 12, 1935 h2 Sheets-Sheet 2 to the underside of thelplate electrode and in intimate electric-current conducting relationthereto, as by lead-burning a llet represented at 2| to the adjacentsurfaces of the lugs and plate, as by means of a. lead welding rod inaccordance with the art of welding together lead objects.

The lugs 20 are shown as extending upwardly to substantially the levelof the upper surface ofl the electrode and to protect the portions ofthe leads I9 above the lugs against the action of 'these parts at eachzone.

the acidbath, these portions are sheathed in lead as represented at 22,in turn covered by rubber current-insulating sleeves 23. `A llet 24 ispreferably provided at the-base of the sheathing 22 which expands thelower end of the sleeve 23. To ensure acid-tight joints between thesleeves 23 and the lugs 20, strips 25 of rubber are wrapped tightlyaround the sleeves and lugs at the joints between them preferably tocause each strip to extend in superposed layers, the sleeves 23 and thestrips 25 being preferably preliminarily coated with rubber cement,

Located in each tank 1 and 8 directly above the electrodes I3-I8,inclusive, respectively, and in flatwise-opposed relation thereto and tothe strip 9, is a group of plate electrodes 26-3I, inclusive, which arespaced apart in end-to-end relation, extend lengthwise of the tank, andin operation are immersed in the pickling bath.

Each electrode 26-3I, according to the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, comprises a pair of substantially parallel bars 32 as, forexample, of copper which extend lengthwise of the tank and arecompletely sheathed in lead, as for example by casting about them, alead plate represented at 33 and shown as of general rectangular shape,the lead plate, not being subject to corrosion by the acid of theelectrolyte, serving to protect the copper bars 32, from contact withthe acid and thus avoid corrosion thereof.

Extending over the bottom surface of the plate 33 is a lead pad 34sealedto the plate along its marginal edges at the joint between it andthe plate as by a continuous lead-burnt joint produced as for example byendlessly grooving these plates at their meeting edges as represented at35 and burning a lead fillet 36 to the walls of the groove 35 as by theuse of a lead welding rod.

At intervals over the area of each upper electrode I provide zones I ofreduced resistance to current flow between the plate 33 and pad 34 withthe result of causing the current to be distributed to a relativelylarge number of points in the area of the electrode; these zones beingshown as arranged in rows at opposite sides of, and substantiallyparallel with, the bars 32, the zones of each row being substantiallyequidistantly spaced apart and spaced a substantially uniform distancefrom the adjacent longitudinal edges of. the bars 32, sixteen of thesezones being provided in the particular construction illustrated.

These zones in the construction shown are produced by a metal-fusingoperation producing a bond between the Plate and pad at each zone,resulting in continuous metal contact between The pressing together ofthe plate and pad may be effected either with or without extra metalsuch as is supplied when a lead welding rod is used, the constructionshown involving the use of such a rod. In this construction openings IOIare provided in the lead plate 33 at thepoints where the zones are to belocated and masses |02 of lead are burnt to the walls of the openingsIOI and to the upper surfaces of the pad at these openings, as by meansof a lead welding rod, thus rendering the metal continuous between theplate and pad at these zones, these masses being shown as filling theopenings though this is not necessary.

Rising from each plate electrode 23-3I is a group of rods 31 of currentconducting material as for example copper which extend through the plate33 and screw into the bars 32, the rods for each of these electrodesbeing arrangedl in rectangular formation, two of each being connectedwith each bar 32.

'I'he rods 31 of each electrode are electrically connected together inany suitable way to a common lead in any suitable way this lead being,in turn, connected with a suitable source of current supply ashereinafter explained.

The rods 31 not only serve as conductors along which the current passesbut also serve as means for supporting the electrodes, preferably invertically adjustable position especially to the end of permitting theseelectrodes to be elevated clear of the bath when the apparatus is not inuse, as for example, as described for the construction disclosed in mysaid copending application.

While the provision of the bars 32 and connectors 31 as shown results ina measure of distribution of current in the electrodes it is de-.sirable that such distribution be augmented and this is accomplished byproducing the above referred to zones or small areas |03 of reducedresistance to current flow between the plates 33 and 34.

By the provision of the zones referred to the current is substantiallyuniformly distributed throughout the entire area of the electrode asdistinguished from the distribution of the current through only thoseareas of the electrode which are immediately adjacent the bars 32 andwhich would occur were the zones not provided.

The rods 31, as in the case of the lead-strips I3, are encased in leadsheathings 39 covered by rubber sleeves 40, both the sheathings andsleeves extending above the level of the bath, the joints between thelower ends of the vsleeves 40 and the electrodes being renderedacid-tight by winding strips o'f rubber about the lower ends of thesesleeves and against the bodies of the electrodes as represented at 40aand generally as described of the coverings for the joints between thesleeves 23 and the lugs 20. y

My invention contemplates the use of either direct or alternatingcurrent as the means for effecting, in its passage from one set to theother of the vertically spaced electrodes and through the interposedbath and strip 3, the desired electrolytic action for accelerating theaction of the bath n the strip and thus greatly reducing4 the timerequired for effecting the desired pickling of the strip.

inasmuch, however, as itis preferred that alternating current be-used, Ihave illustrated the invention as embodied in apparatus designed foroperation by such current employing a threephase circuit.

Referring .more particularly to Fig. 1 the three line current conductorsleading from a suitable generator (not shown) for supplying current tosuch a circuit are represented at 4I, 42 and 43. T wo single-phasestep-down transformers 44 and 45 are employed, the primary windings 43and 41 of which are connected to the three leads 4I, 42

ductor 4I in. accordance with common practice: The secondary winding 4lof the transformer V-and 43 and with each other by the current con- 'and28 of tank` 1, by current conductors 63-68,

inclusive.

Likewise the secondary of the transformer 51 is formed of three separateand individual windings 69, 'l0 and 'II connected, respectively, incircuit with the pairs of opposed electrodes I5 and 29; I1 and 30; andI8 and 3l of tank 1, by current conductors l2-11, inclusive.

The secondary winding 18 of transformer 45 is connected, in parallel,with the primary windings 19 and 80 of single-phase transformers vilIand 82, by current conductors 83, 84, 85 and 86, with interposed tapselector switches 81 and 88, as explained of the connections between thesecondary 49 and the primary windings 54 and 55.

The secondaries of the transformers 8| and 82 comprise separate andindividual windings 89, 98 and 9i; and 92, 93 and 94, respectively, thewindings, 89-94, inclusive, being connected, respectively, in circuitwiththe pairs of opposed electrodes I3and 26; I4 and 21; I5 and 28; I8and 29; I1 and 30;and I8 and 3I of tank 8 by current conductors 95-III6,inclusive, respectively.

The three-phase current is thus converted by the transformers 44 and 45into two-phase current, the strip 9 itself representing the neutralconnection of the two-phase secondary, each phase of the two-phasecurrent being connected with the electrodes of a tank so that asubstantially balanced load is maintained on the threephase circuit.

By the provision of the secondaries of each transformer 54 and 55 and I9and 88 of sectional form and the connections between these transformertaps and the various sections of the top and bottom electrodesectionsall as shown and described, the current flow between all of the opposedelectrodes is substantially uniform.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit itthereto as the same may be variously modified and altered and theinvention embodied in other forms of structure without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

In this connection it may be st'ated that the invention is not limitedto use in an apparatus wherein spaced apart electrodes separate from.the object to be treated by the electrolytic action,

tively low current conducting material, a bar of relatively high currentconducting material for connection with an electric circuit, said barbeing enveloped by said body, a pad of current conducting materialextending across said body, and means providing continuous metalcontactbetween the bar and pad at spaced apart zones, the pointsof contactaffording zones of reduced resistance to current flow between saidbodyand pad.

2. An electrode comprising a body of relatively low current conductingmaterial, a bar of relatively high current conducting material forconnection with an electric circuit, said bar being enveloped by saidbody, and a pad of current conducting material extending across saidbody, said body and pad being fused together at spaced apart points toailord spaced apart zones of reduced resistance to current now betweensaid body and pad.

3. An electrode comprising `a body of lead, a bar of relatively highcurrent conducting material for connection with an electric circuit,said bar being enveloped by said body, a pad of lead extending acrosssaid body, and means providing continuous metal contact between the barand pad at spaced apart zones, the points of contact aording zones ofreduced resistance to' duced resistance to current iow between said`body and pad.

5. An electrode comprising a plate-like body of relatively low currentconducting material, a bar of relatively high current conducting ma#terial for connection with an electric circuit, said bar being envelopedby said body, a pad of current conducting materialextending across saidbody, and means providing continuous metal contact between the bar andpad at spaced apart zones, the points of contact affording zones ofreduced resistance to current now between said body and pad, the padbeing oi a thickness relatively small compared with its superficialarea.

6. An electrode comprising a body of relatively low current conductingmaterial, a bar of relatively high current conducting material forconnection with an electric circuit, said bar being enveloped by saidbody; conductor means leading to the said bar, a lead coating on saidconductor means, a sheathing of insulating material surrounding saidcoating, a pad of current conduct-v ing material extending across saidbody, and means providing continuous metal contact between the bar andpad at spaced apart zones, the points of contact aiording zones ofreduced resistance to' current ilow between said body and pad.

7. An electrode comprising a body of relatively low current conductingmaterial, spaced apart bars of relatively high current conductingmaterial for connection with an electric circuit, said bars beingembedded in said body, -a pad of current conducting material extendingacross said body, and means providing continuous metal contact betweenthe bars 'and pad-at spaced apart zones, the points of contact affordingzones of reduced resistance to current flow between said body and pad.

